Sternal Support with Damping Elements for Hyperextension Frames
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hyperextension frames for immobilizing the spine after surgery lack effective adjustment systems for the sternal support, leading to comfort limitations and inadequate adaptation to the patient's body, particularly in terms of elastic amplitude and irregular body areas.
Innovation Solution
A sternal support with a mounting and front plate system, utilizing damping elements and attachment devices that allow for three-dimensional adjustments, including elastic plugs and threaded rods, to maintain a comfortable separation distance and adapt to the patient's chest anatomy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed sternal support structure is used in hyperextension frames, then the structural simplicity is maintained, but the adaptability to different patient body shapes and the comfort are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The sternal support incorporates adjustable components including a vertical adjustment mechanism with a movable bar that can be positioned at different heights along the lateral bars, and a horizontal adjustment mechanism with a movable plate that can slide along the vertical bar. This dynamic adjustability allows the support to adapt to different patient body shapes and sizes while maintaining structural integrity through controlled mechanical movements.
Solution Approach 2:
The sternal support is divided into multiple independent adjustable components: the mounting plate attached to lateral bars, the vertical adjustment bar with positioning holes, the horizontal adjustment plate with sliding mechanism, and damping elements. This segmentation allows each component to be adjusted independently to achieve optimal fit for different patients, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the sternal support is made rigid to maintain structural stability, then the support strength is improved, but the comfort and adaptation to irregular body areas are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure incorporates damping elements (elastic plugs or springs) that can be selected or adjusted to change the mechanical parameters of the support. These damping elements provide controlled compliance that allows adaptation to irregular body contours while maintaining sufficient support strength through the rigid mounting plate and lateral bar connections. The adjustability of positioning holes and sliding mechanisms further enables parameter optimization for different body types.
3Ease of operation
If the sternal support allows extensive adjustment to improve comfort, then the adaptability is enhanced, but the device complexity and impact on the patient increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanisms are designed to be dynamically adjustable during patient treatment. The vertical bar can be moved to different height positions by selecting among multiple positioning holes, and the horizontal plate can be slid to different positions along the vertical bar. This dynamic adjustability enhances comfort and ease of operation while keeping the mechanism relatively simple through the use of basic mechanical components like holes for positioning and sliding surfaces for movement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides enhanced comfort and adaptability by allowing precise adjustments in three spatial directions, improving the fit and reducing discomfort and injury risks during use.
Implementation Method 1
damping elements which maintain a separation distance between said mounting and said front plate
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a sternal support for a hyperextension frame which includes a mounting (2) combined with a front plate (7), and damping elements (9) that maintain a separation distance between the mounting (2) and the front plate (7). The mounting (2) and the front plate (7) are joined together via attachment devices (8) which include central portions accommodated inside coaxial holes (9a) of the damping elements (9); wherein the front plate (7) can be adjusted in three spatial directions substantially perpendicular to one another. The sternal support can be adjusted in three spatial directions, substantially improving the adaptation thereof to the body of the patient, thus minimising impacts and allowing adjustment in terms of its elastic amplitude as well as its adaptability to irregular areas of the patient's body.